I CAN'T believe....

...it SNOWED this weekend!!! Well living in Chicago I can ACTUALLY believe it, but I was REALLY hoping it was done! The hawks came back to the neighborhood, the frogs started croaking again, the robins are back, the tulips are growing, the grass is starting to turn green ALL signs were pointing to Spring being here for good! Instead this is what I woke up to yesterday!!!



ARGH!!! Oh well! Its in the 50's today and it is melting pretty fast!


So I have a new "addiction"!!! YUP stamps and Prisma watercolor pencils and I am sure Copic Markers as well soon too!!! I used some 50% off coupons this weekend and bought a small set of the pencils and some adorable stamps and I have been having SOOO much fun stamping away!! Here are my first attempts. It is fun to experiment and see how coloring different ways gives you different effects! Oh am I in trouble now!! LOL!!


Well TTFN!
Valerie

Hey Cuttlebug users!!!!

I just came across this blog and you need to go over there NOW and check it out! They have a survey that Provo Craft is conducting about improvements to the Cuttlebug, a giveaway for taking the survey as well as a preview of a CHA July Cuttlebug folder release!! Oh Yeah there is one more contest as well as the challenges they host on the blog! Here's the link and don't wait go vote on the Cuttlebug!!

http://cuttlebugchallenge.blogspot.com

TFL!
Valerie

LOTS of fun over at Paper Popsicles!!!

Paper Popsicles is BURSTING with LOTS of fun things right now!!!! First off you still have time to participate in the Cosmo Cricket Challenge! By the end of the month you need to make something using 90% Cosmo Cricket and become a follower of their blog and you could win some YUMMY Cosmo Cricket stuff! Here is my LO I made for the challenge using the new Snorkel line! I even used some Cosmo Cricket blackboard pieces and letters in this LO! Check out their blog http://www.paperpopsicles.blogspot.com

Next up the Easter bunny has joined the message board over at paper Popsicles and you never know when that bunny might drop something out of its basket!

And finally Paper Popsicles is having a Design Team call right now as well! Here are the details:
Want to be on our Design Team ?

We are looking for fun, enthusiastic, and creative paper crafters to join our Design Team. Our design team motivates, inspires, and supports our online community. We are looking for paper crafters of all skill levels, with or without design team experience. Paper Popsicles kits and store products appeal to a wide audience, so we're looking for all type of scrappers... from traditional to chic. We are accepting applicants from the U.S. & Canada. this time.

Deadline for Design Team submissions will be Thursday, April 30, 2009. To apply, please send the following items to paperpopsicles@gmail.com.


Full contact information (Name, Address, Phone Number, Email Address, and message board user ID).
3 layouts (1 layout must be 2 pages with multi-photos), 1 altered project and 1 card - these can be previously published items - we just want to see your best work!. Links of your blog, online galleries, or other places where your work can be seen. Please include any user IDs necessary..
Register for our message board and get to know the members of our community and allow us to get to know you a little better..
A short resume of your paper crafting experience, including any current or prior design teams..
A short bio about yourself; including what you consider your scrapping style to be and why you want to be part of the Paper Popsicles Design Team

Design Team Requirements:

Our designers rotate between the main kit and mini-kit assignments. Main kit assignments consist of 4-6 projects using the supplied kit contents. Projects should be a variety of layouts and cards; 3-4 layouts (a multi-photo two page layout is required each month) and a card set (2 or more cards) per kit. All projects should be made with at least 90% kit contents or store product. All items to be submitted prior to the monthly deadline..

Every other month, choose a project you have recently created using store products and provide written directions and photos for an online workshop. Directions should focus on specific steps needed to recreate your project, including techniques used, measurements for cutting, and include sketches as needed. These may be published on the blog as well as the how-to forum..

Each design team member is expected to participate actively on the message board, gallery and contribute content to the Paper Popsicles blog. Activity includes starting new threads, posting questions, tips, responding to threads, and leaving gallery praise..

Every designer is assigned a week each month to post the question of the day on the board.. Participate in any online events that are held during term.. Participate in Design Team discussions.

Commitment to a 4 month contract term May 2009 - August 2009 with the possibility of an additional 2 months or until October 2009.

Design Team Compensation:

Receive a discount on purchases from Paper Popsicles.. Receive monthly Design Team kits as assigned to be used in creating monthly projects. Free shipping on orders shipped with Design Team kits. Other store merchandise as creative work is needed.

Watch the Paper Popsicles blog on May 2, 2009 for the exciting announcement of our new design team!!!
And on the subject of Design teams Dixie Pieces Design team call ends today! Wish me luck!!! : )

Well its lunch time here!
TFL!!!

Valerie

Scrapping Questions

So over at the Paperpopsicles blog today they have this questionnaire to answer. Here are my favorites:

How long have you been scrapping? Since 1994
What is your fav adhesive? Herma dotto removable
Cardstock you can't live without? Bazzill
Do you prefer acrylic or rubber stamps? rubber
Pigment or dye ink? not sure
Patterned paper preferences? bright colors
Fav paper manufacturer? Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, My Mind's Eye, October Afternoon
What style scrapper are you? hmmmm...
How often do you craft? I try to daily
Do you make cards? I have begun making cards just recently
Do you send the cards you make? I haven't yet
Snack while you scrap? Usually not unless I am out cropping somewhere
Scrap with your stash? I try to, but I have a shopping problem!! LOL!!
Do you just have to have the current releases? YES!!!
Are addicted to scrapping? YES!!! And I DON'T want a 12 step program!!
Fav rubber stamp manufacturer? Hero Arts
Do you have a stamp you always use? Not yet just starting building my collection!
Flowers for embellishments? Prima
WHY do you scrapbook? It is relaxation for me and a way to preserve memories for my children
fav tool? My Cricut Expression and Xyron sticker maker
Least fav tool? Paper tagger

Now its your turn copy the questions and share your answers on your blog!

TFS!
Valerie

I know, I know...

I have been a bad girl and neglecting my blog AGAIN!!! Life has been busy and well I just haven't felt inspired to blog! But I am back in the blogging mood so watch out!! LOL!!

In the scrapping world I have a few exciting things I am working on and hopefully I will have some exciting news to share soon! I have a couple LO's I can share, but most of what I have right now can't be shown yet. I went with my friend Robin to Craft Fancy and did a little scrappy shopping while there, oh and did I forget to mention her parents were SOOO NICE and kept our boys so we could shop without children!!! : ) Yeah they ROCK!!! It was SOOO nice to shop without the boys!! I have been working on cards lately and REALLY like the look of cards that are stamped and colored in with Copic markers or watercolor pencils, so I bought a stamp yesterday and I am planning another trip to get some watercolor pencils and maybe a couple more stamps! There are some really STINKIN CUTE stamps and GREAT ideas of ways to use them! It looks like I may have another addiction!! LOL!!! So here are a couple LO's I did for the Dixie Pieces crop at the begining of the month.




So in other news I just got done having 2 birthday parties for the boys this past weekend!! I still can't believe I was crazy enough to have one party right after the other!! But the boys had a GREAT time! I CAN'T believe that they are 4 already!!! Time really flies!! Here are a couple pics from the birthday celebrations. One thing I don't like about their birthday parties is I am always busy and I don't have the opportunity to take my own pictures so I have to rely on someone else to use my camera and take pics for me! I am GRATEFUL for great friends to take pics for me, but I am sad I don't have the chance to take my own pics! Oh well!


Joseph trying to find some more candy left in the pinata!


And what does the garbage look like after 2 parties????

And that wasn't ALL the garbage!!! LOL!!!

Well we had a couple REALLY warm days here lately so the boys and I went with Robin and her son to the zoo and had a BLAST together!! Here are a few pics form our trip. We also got to hear the lion roar several times!! It was SOO exciting!! I LOVE the zoo!


This guy found a sippy cup that was dropped in their display and was walking around with it! He was even running around with the sippy cup hanging from his mouth! I informed a zoo worker so I hope they were able to get it away from him amd the baboon was OK!

This is Josh and Joseph!

Well I better feed the boys their lunch and get on with my day! And NO I STILL can't get my blog all pretty looking!!! ARGH!!! I will have to sit down again and try it one more time!!
TFL!!

Valerie